Don't ignore inflation!

“In the years since 1970, the median annual rate of
inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, has been 3.37%; the average rate over the past
44 years has been 4.27%.” “The
average is higher than the median in this case because of three particular
years — 1974, 1979 and 1980 — in which inflation exceeded 12%, skewing the
average upward but with virtually no impact on the median.” Read the article
for more info and to view the bar graphs.